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OBL raider may testify at court-martial

U.S. Army PFC Bradley Manning, seen in this undated file photo, is accused of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks. Manning faces a court martial which could land him in prison for life. UPI/File
U.S. Army PFC Bradley Manning, seen in this undated file photo, is accused of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks. Manning faces a court martial which could land him in prison for life. UPI/File | License Photo

FORT MEADE, Md., April 10 (UPI) -- A military judge ruled Wednesday a member of the strike team that killed Osama bin Laden may testify at the court-martial of U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.

Prosecutors at Fort Meade, Md., plan to argue there is evidence of a link between documents and other material Manning is charged with leaking, and material discovered in bin Laden's compound in Pakistan after U.S. forces raided the compound and killed the al-Qaida leader in 2011.

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Manning, who is scheduled to be court-martialed in June, has pleaded guilty to some charges but his lawyers -- arguing against allowing the bin Laden strike force member to testify -- told the judge evidence gathered during the raid is not relevant to Manning's case, The Washington Post reported.

The judge, Army Col. Denise Lind, ruled prosecutors must prove the "enemy received" the material and that Manning "had reason to believe" the material he is accused of providing to WikiLeaks "could be used to the injury of the U.S. or the advantage of any foreign nation," the Post said.

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The witness who was the subject of Wednesday's ruling has been identified publicly only as "John Doe" and a Department of Defense "operator." The newspaper said the witness is most likely a member of SEAL Team 6 -- and said it was not clear whether the testimony will be given in open court.

The judge has said the witness might be permitted to wear a disguise in court.

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